The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-12
Letter From Hon. E. Barksdale-The
Appropriation for Big Black.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 8, 1887.

WASHINGTON, ID. o., Jan. 3, 1887.
EDITOR CLARION: The question has
been asked why the bill reported to the
House by the Committee on River and
Harbor improvements, the present session,
contains no item for the improvement of
Big Black River, and beg leave to answer
through the press.
The first appropriation which was ever
made for improving that stream, was made
July 5, 1884, during the first session of ms
service in Congress. The report of the en-
gineer in charge of the work, was favora-
BILE to it's completion. 1t was shown that
the river was adapted to steamboat navi-
CATION for a considerable distance above its
structions would serve to drain the contig
uous lands and render them more valua-
BILE for cultivation. The engineer, how
ever, reported that its navigation was OBJ
structed by the bridge OF the Louisville,
New Orleans and Texas Railroad, about
fifteen miles above the mouth of the river,
and that of the Vicksburg and Meridian
Railroad, ninety miles above its mouth !;
and he recommended that until these OBJ
structions are removed no additional ap-
Precipitation be made for improving the
river. In view of this commentator,
early in the last session of the Mississippi
Legislature, wrote to several members of
that body, urging the passage of a law re-
curing the railroad companies to remove
these distractions by the erection of draw
bridges. Bills were introduced to that eff
feet, but the Legislature adjourned without
action. Nevertheless, at the last session of
Congress, by the active cooper alton of my
colleague, Hon. 7. c. Catchings, member
of the River and Harbor Committee, sue
ceeded in securing another appropriation
Tor the river in the bill az it passed the
House.
This item, however, was stricken out of
the bill by the Senate Committee, but il
was restored in the Senate on the motion
of Senator George, with proviso, as fol-
lows:
Provided, That no part Of this appropri-
alton shall be used until the State of Mis- |
siseippi shall have first caused the bridges |
over said stream south of the Vicksburg d |
Meridian Railroad to be 90 constructed as
not to obstruct the navigation OF said |
stream.
The House bill also contained the fol- |
lowing clause:
Whenever the Secretary Of War shall |
have good reason to believe that any rail- |
road or other bridge now constructed or 1
hereafter TO be Constructed over any of the |
navioable waters of the United States un-
der authority of the United States or to
any State or Territory, IL an obstruction of |
the free navigation OF such waters, by rea-
son Of insufficient height, width of span, or
or Of difficulty in passing the
draw opening or the raft-span of said
bridge by Rats, steamboats,, or other water
craft il shall Be the duty Of the said Sec
ret.ry, on the presentation to him Of :
complaint, under oath, by any citizen of
the United States, in such form as he may
prescribe, to cause said bridge to be forth
with removed.
This clause would have provided an ef-
fectual Femedy for the distractions, but il
Wns also stricken1 out By the Senate.
Inssmuch - there has been no meeting 4
81 the Legislature since the approval Of the
vt 81 August 5, 1885, the appropriation
IN the act remains unexpended
md further appropriation h impossible. Il
until The obqfrucfions are removed. The II
work = merifori0us, and it. completion
would Is aftended with Important com
norcia1 heneGm- regret IL interruption
Int Il will ~ seen that is = due 70 no neg
IA o. ~ paxt = BAnKsDALk